Merseyside Derby Tickets: How to Get a Liverpool Seat for the Big One

Let's be straight with you. Getting Merseyside derby tickets is one of the toughest asks in English football. No membership? No credits? No chance through official channels. Liverpool vs Everton at Anfield sells out through members' sales long before a general sale ever materialises, and even members with zero previous-season credits are fighting over scraps. Here's how the system actually works, what each route costs you in time and money, and which path is realistic for your situation.

Key takeaways

• Liverpool's Merseyside derby is categorised as a high-demand fixture, meaning higher face-value pricing and the stiffest competition for tickets across every sale window.
• General sale to non-members almost never happens for high-demand Anfield fixtures like the derby. Membership is the bare minimum.
• Liverpool's two bulk members' sales each season (July for August to December fixtures, November/December for January to May) are where most derby tickets get allocated. One ticket per eligible membership.
• Away end tickets for Liverpool supporters at Everton require years of built-up away credits. New member? Forget it.
• Hospitality is the only route that skips the membership and credit system entirely, but it comes at a hefty price.

How does Liverpool's ticket sale system work for the derby?

The derby doesn't get its own special process. It follows the same staggered system as every other Premier League home match. Just with far more people scrapping over fewer seats.

Liverpool FC runs two bulk members' sales per season: one in July covering August to December fixtures, and another in November or December covering January to May. The Everton game falls into whichever half of the season it's scheduled. Each eligible membership can buy one ticket per game. That's it. One.

The sale is staggered. Members who attended enough matches the previous season get first crack, lasting roughly 24 to 48 hours. Then all members get a window. General sale to non-members? Rarely happens, and for a fixture like the derby, forget it entirely.

Liverpool categorises matches by demand. The derby sits in the highest pricing band, so tickets cost more and sell out far faster than standard fixtures. If you're not a member before the bulk sale opens, you're already behind.

What membership do I need, and how do credits work?

You need a Liverpool FC membership to even enter the queue. Liverpool FC awards one match credit for every game you attend. The more credits you've stacked up, the earlier your access window opens during staggered sales.

For the derby specifically, this is where it gets brutal. Members with higher credit totals from the previous season buy first. If you've only just signed up, you're in the last wave, and for a fixture this popular, the last wave often means no joy whatsoever.

• Set up your account and Friends & Family links early. Liverpool FC requires every ticket holder's name at purchase. If you're buying for a mate, they need to be linked in your Friends & Family section before the sale opens. Don't leave this until the morning of. Proper faff if you do.
• One ticket per membership per match. You can't buy a block of four on one membership. Each person in your group needs their own. No shortcuts.
• Hospitality no longer earns credits. From 2026/27, Liverpool FC removed hospitality credits entirely. So buying a pricey hospitality ticket once won't help you build toward a standard-priced derby seat next time.

The Merseyside derby ticket ladder

Most guides just list the official process and leave it. Here's a structured way to think about your actual options, ranked from most to least realistic depending on who you are.

• Season ticket holder (seat included). Who it suits: Existing STH. Realistic for the derby?: Yes, seat guaranteed. Lead time needed: Years on the waiting list. Cost level: Season ticket price.
• Bulk members' sale (high credits). Who it suits: Long-standing member, loads of credits. Realistic for the derby?: Strong chance. Lead time needed: Membership + seasons of attending. Cost level: Face value (top band).
• Bulk members' sale (low/zero credits). Who it suits: New or casual member. Realistic for the derby?: A long shot. Lead time needed: Membership before July or Nov sale. Cost level: Face value (top band).
• Additional Members' Sale. Who it suits: Any member, registered for the game. Realistic for the derby?: Outside chance (returned tickets only). Lead time needed: Register ~2 weeks before. Cost level: Face value.
• Young Adult ballot (ages 17 to 24). Who it suits: Liverpool members aged 17 to 24. Realistic for the derby?: Ballot, so luck-dependent. Lead time needed: Register ~2 weeks before.
• Local Members / Local General ballot. Who it suits: L-postcode members. Realistic for the derby?: Ballot, luck of the draw. Lead time needed: Register ~2 weeks before. Cost level: Face value.
• Hospitality. Who it suits: Anyone, no membership or credits needed. Realistic for the derby?: Yes, if you've got the budget. Lead time needed: Goes on sale well ahead of standard tickets. Cost level: Expensive.
• Match-break package. Who it suits: International or travelling fans. Realistic for the derby?: Yes, if available. Lead time needed: Book early. Cost level: Hospitality-level.
• Verified secondary market. Who it suits: Anyone. Realistic for the derby?: Risky, limited, and pricey. Lead time needed: Monitor constantly. Cost level: Well above face value.

The pattern is obvious. The higher up that ladder you sit, the better your odds. Sitting at the bottom? You're either paying through the nose or relying on pure luck.

Can I get a derby ticket without any membership?

Almost certainly not through official channels. Liverpool FC confirms that general sale to non-members is rare and typically only happens for lower-demand fixtures. The Merseyside derby is the opposite of lower-demand.

Your only realistic option without a membership is hospitality. Liverpool FCsells hospitality packages with no membership or credit requirements. They go on sale well before standard tickets, which is handy. But they're not priced for the faint-hearted, and availability for a specific fixture isn't guaranteed.

For international supporters, Liverpool specifically points to membership plus hospitality, or a match-break package bundling a ticket with a hotel, as the most reliable routes.

What about the Additional Members' Sale?

This is where returned tickets land. Liverpool FC makes them available roughly 7 to 10 days before each home league game, first-come-first-served, with priority going to members who hold more credits.

You have to register for this sale on a game-by-game basis. Registration opens about two weeks before the fixture. Don't register, don't get a look-in. Simple as that.

Is it realistic for the derby? Honestly, it's a long shot. Tickets do get returned (season ticket holders who can't make it, mostly), but demand is through the roof. Still worth registering though. Costs you nothing but a couple of minutes and puts your name in the hat. Sod's law, the one time you don't bother is the one time tickets pop up.

Can I get away end tickets for the Merseyside derby?

New member wanting to sit in the away end at Everton? Not happening. Liverpool FC is blunt about this: a new member has effectively no chance of buying an official away-end ticket.

Away tickets are sold using a multi-year away credit balance covering the previous three seasons. Supporters with the most away credits buy first, working down through credit bands. No away season ticket exists. Sales are match-to-match, first-come-first-served within each band, capped at ten tickets per transaction.

For a fixture like the derby, even fans with decent away credit balances can miss out. It's the hardest away ticket in the calendar alongside a handful of other top-six matchups. Years of graft. That's the price of entry.

One more thing worth spelling out. If you're tempted to buy a ticket in the home end at Everton's ground, Liverpool FC warns explicitly: never wear Liverpool colours or celebrate in the home sections. You risk ejection with no refund. For a match as heated as the Merseyside derby, this is genuinely risky. Don't do it.

How do I avoid getting scammed on derby tickets?

The secondary market for Merseyside derby tickets is crawling with chancers.

• Social media sellers. Random accounts on X or Facebook offering "spare derby tickets" are overwhelmingly dodgy. No buyer protection, no recourse. Walk away.
• PDF-only tickets. Liverpool uses digital ticketing tied to individual accounts. Someone offering you a PDF or a screenshot? That's a scam.
• Last-minute price drops. If a listing suddenly drops from a daft price to something "too good to miss" hours before kick-off, it's almost certainly bent. Genuine sellers don't slash prices on the most in-demand fixture of the season.
• No verifiable identity. Legitimate resale involves named, traceable sellers with refund guarantees. Can't verify who you're buying from? You're taking a punt with your money.
• Pressure to pay by bank transfer. Any seller pushing you to transfer directly rather than use a payment method with buyer protection is giving the game away (not in a good way).

Smart approach? Line up multiple routes and set alerts early rather than panic-buying from the first listing you find. Football Ticket Pro is one way to keep tabs on verified listings without trawling through dodgy sellers.

Did Everton's new stadium change anything?

Everton moved to their new home, Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, in February 2025, leaving Goodison Park after 133 years. The new ground holds 52,769, comfortably more than Goodison's roughly 39,000. The bigger capacity means more derby tickets exist for the Everton home fixture, but the Merseyside derby remains wildly oversubscribed regardless. More seats hasn't turned it into an easy ticket. Not a chance.

For the Liverpool home fixture at Anfield, nothing changes. Anfield's capacity is what it is, and the demand for Liverpool vs Everton isn't going anywhere.

Your next steps

The Merseyside derby rewards the prepared and punishes the hopeful.

1. Get a Liverpool FC membership sorted well before the bulk sale windows (July and November/December).
2. Build credits by attending lower-demand matches first. Every game you go to earns one credit, and those credits determine when you buy.
3. Register for every Additional Members' Sale and every applicable ballot (Local Members, Young Adult if you qualify). Put your name in every hat going.
4. If credits and patience aren't on your side, look at hospitality early. It's pricey but it's the path of least resistance.
5. Stay well clear of dodgy secondary sellers. If it feels too good to be true, it is.

Line up your options. Act fast when windows open. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Sources: Liverpool FC. Last verified 13 June 2026.

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